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USA-Spec PA12-BMW Full Video Review and Pictorial Installation Guide

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#1 · (Edited)
USA-Spec PA12-BMW Integrated iPod Full Video Review and Pictorial Installation Guide

My Review of this wonderful device on my 2001 BMW 330i with an upgraded 02/2006 Alpine CD53 Head Unit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=483gfP19i4A

EDIT: 02/23/2010 (added and tested Auxiliary Input cable)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0xQnkM1oNY

EDIT: 03/01/2010 (full range of the usa spec functions reviewed and discussed)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d36YSPtElrU

This USA-Spec is installed in a E46 that has the factory gen 1 BMW Sirius Receiver and an integrated Bluetooth system and everything is working perfectly in harmony.



Key Points Of Review:

-Kit Quality; The USA-Spec get high marks for this. Everything is either aluminum metal for the body or high grade tough rubber for the cables.

-Playlist Features; The USA-Spec will fall short in this department for two types of people. The first are those folks who tend to carry tons of Playlists in their iPods and second are those that don't use Playlists at all and organize song playback by artist or album.
The USA-Spec reads from BMW1 thru BMW5 Playlist that the user creates beforehand or the USA-Spec will read the first 5 playlist stored on the iPod. It is a Playlist dependent device. But I like this feature because it is clean, 100% bug free, functional, easy to use and quick.



-Connecting the iPod and iPod Storage ideas in a BMW E46:
ipod connection is quick and I love that the Spec starts playback from where you left off with the iPod. So literally you can leave your car for months with your iPod then comeback to your car and the USA-Spec will return to playing the song you last heard.

-Sound quality; Was the biggest treat of this kit. It is superb on my stock HK system! The USA-Spec is very generous with the Bass so having Donkey Kong bass in the trunk feeding off your iPod is still an option with the Spec.

-Ease of use; Very easy. I had the DICE 1st gen in my car for a day or two and I didn't like how complex the features were. I use my iPod for primarily 2 Playlists: New Music and Podcasts with other minor Playlists dedicated to my favorites in various genres from R&B and Jazz to Rock, Electronica, HipHop, etc...

The DICE when it worked required too much setting up for me inside the car (in organizing Artists/Albums/etc....).

The USA-Spec, once you have your Playlists pre-managed and set up on your computer, your iPod is plug and play.

-Any bugs or issues; After a week of heavy use they were none with the kit. During the video review's many outtakes I realized that the iPod itself did not like being constantly plugged in and out from the car (about 20 times in the space of 40 minutes) but it didn't freeze up, mess with the car or required any major battery or dealership reset. The iPod only turned itself off to the apple screen and turned back on.

-Cost; I got my kit for only $90-something bucks new off eBay an dthe prices of these are around the low $100s. For what you get I think that is a great bargain. Plus if you don't like it, sell it back on eBay because the unit has strong resale value because it is a good kit.

BOTTOM LINE:
I totally recommend this kit for anyone who, like me, wants to get in their car, plug in iPod, press play and drive. I don't like speck docks or cables and cradles in my way, nor do I like managing copious amounts of playlists and ways of playing my music on the fly. With the USA-Spec you do it all at the computer so you don't really have to do it in the car. Plus with the RCA AUX-in adding HD radio, Aftermarket Sirius or another source of music in the car is easy to do.


Here is a quick run down of the other competitors:

For iPod Data Connection you will need either the DICE Silverline kit or the USA-SPEC PA-12. Both these kits are the top two leading kits in terms of performance (USA-Spec) and popularity (DICE) and both cost just under $150 (cheaper on eBay). The Dealership also sells their own spartan iPod retrofit kits priced at around $185 to $200 and performs more similarly to USA-Spec than the DICE.



Now onto the basic installation for the USA-Spec. This is the same for the DICE unit that goes in the trunk:

PART ONE: Prep your car for installation.

















I had previously installed a BMW Sirius Receiver in my car so I will show that part here since it is also important to show how I slaved the USA-Spec unit off the Sirius Unit which in turns carries all the information to the Data Link #1 port on the back of the CD53 Head Unit.

For folks that do not have a BMW Sirius Receiver, and do not have a BMW Factory CD Changer in the trunk you can skip thru this part and connect your DICE or USA-SPEC or other Data Unit to the pre-wired CD Changer cables that are in your in the trunk as shown above ( the felt wrapped cables that I'm seen unwrapping to connect to my Sirius Receiver).

If your BMW E46 did not come with any pre-wiring for the CD Changer you will need to buy the Data Link Cable BMW Part# 61128374683 (see image below) which costs around $40 to $60 at the dealership and install it yourself from the Data Link Port #1 to your iPod Data Unit. Those doing it this way will have the advantage of leaving everything inside the cabin of the car since you can opt to keep everything behind the dash area.


01 CONNECTION CABLE CD-CHANGER 4150MM 1 61128374683 $25.50


Those who are using a Sirius Receiver or a CD Changer already in the trunk will have to get the Slave Data Connector OEM Part #84110150526 and use it to connect the iPod Data Unit directly to the Sirius/CD Changer which will in turn connect the iPod Data Unit to the car. So when MODE is selected after SIRIUS you will access your iPod as if it is a CD Changer. This first part is for you guys:

Picture of Slave Cable below borrowed from SNA77.





Now onto the pictorial installation guide:












 
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#161 · (Edited)
So, after a good 3 or so hours, with the help of my little cousin I was able to wire my USA SPEC PA12-BMW through the rear driver's side firewall, under the rear seats, and to the glove box. I then took the sunglass holder out and drilled a hole into it, and that's there the iPod cable is! Looks quite stealthy when all is put away, and I'm loving it! My only issue, however, is the firmware of the PA12-BMW just so happens to be an OLDER version so while it is compatible with my iPhone 4 when it comes to playing music, it doesn't charge it as it should. The text display is also slightly different as the current version, so I'm pretty sure it's the firmware that's in need of a refresh. That's all on me, though, for purchasing used off of eBay. I've contacted USA Spec about this issue of mine and I'm really hoping that they'll help resolve it for me with minimal costs. Just slightly frustrated. I may even try and get the seller on eBay to give me a refund...
 
#162 ·
I've contacted USA Spec about this issue of mine and I'm really hoping that they'll help resolve it for me with minimal costs. Just slightly frustrated. I may even try and get the seller on eBay to give me a refund...
Very sorry you got a unit with older firmware. From another member's post I beleive USA-Spec will upgrade you firmware for $75. A little expensive imo. I would suggest to try to get a refund from the ebay seller, but that means ripping out your routed cable. What a PIA!

Please see link for discussion about firmware update:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?p=14208107#post14208107
 
#164 ·
Installation of USASPEC in 2006 M3 completed

I just finished the USASPEC installation in my M3, I really appreciated this thread and the very well written DIY. So far it works like a charm! Two things I wanted to share:

1- I routed cable thru the trunk, under the backseat, and straight to the center console. I wanted to be able to handle the phone comfortably from the driver's seat so I reverse engineered the cable placement from where I wanted the phone to sit to where the connection with the USASPEC hardware unit would happen. I then had several options behind the rear seat where it could be placed. This shorter route resulted in a bunch of extra primary cable which I tucked into the same void as the USASPEC unit behind the rear seat. I figure if I need to reset the unit I can access the CD changer plug in the trunk easily, but if I want to change dip switches I'll have to remove the backseat.

2- I have IOS 5.1.1 on my iPhone and the USASPEC unit I purchased new has worked flawlessly so far.

Thanks again for this terrific post!
 
#165 ·
I just finished the USASPEC installation in my M3, I really appreciated this thread and the very well written DIY. So far it works like a charm! Two things I wanted to share:

1- I routed cable thru the trunk, under the backseat, and straight to the center console. I wanted to be able to handle the phone comfortably from the driver's seat so I reverse engineered the cable placement from where I wanted the phone to sit to where the connection with the USASPEC hardware unit would happen. I then had several options behind the rear seat where it could be placed. This shorter route resulted in a bunch of extra primary cable which I tucked into the same void as the USASPEC unit behind the rear seat. I figure if I need to reset the unit I can access the CD changer plug in the trunk easily, but if I want to change dip switches I'll have to remove the backseat.

2- I have IOS 5.1.1 on my iPhone and the USASPEC unit I purchased new has worked flawlessly so far.

Thanks again for this terrific post!


Hey brother where did you buy your usaspec because i want to make sure i get the updated firmware.
 
#166 ·
The USA-Spec will fall short in this department for those that don't use Playlists at all and organize song playback by artist or album.
Thanks for many detailed DIY's delmarco. I wanted to clarify this comment from the original post. In direct mode, can I still use steering wheel controls to track up/down if I select artist/album from the iphone? My goal is to add iPhone integration to my E46 so I can mainly listen to internet radio apps - Pandora, Shoutcast, NPR - and to get turn-by-turn voice directions from Maps.
 
#167 · (Edited)
just installed one of these last night in my 325xi wagon. Could not have been easier really. Less than 45min and I had everything connected and working, this is with pulling out the glovebox and stashing the usa spec box in there. iPhone 4s in direct mode with spotify playing and waze giving turn by turn directions. Steering wheel controls skip through spotify just fine but I don't get the track title on the HU. Though if I switch to disc 5 (all songs) and spotify is playing it will still play and give me the track title / artist on the HU but if i hit next or prev on the steering wheel it will switch to all songs. Weird but not a big deal at all.
 
#171 ·
I have a 2003.5 M3 vert with a stupid Kenwood single din radio. It does have HK. I found a business CD player that came out of a 2000 328i on the M3 forums. I have an iPhone 4. My car is wired for CD changer. Should I have any issues using this adapter? I'm assuming I would need to get the non DSP version, PA12BMW, correct?
 
#173 ·
GREAT Thread!

This a really great thread that is much appreciated! :thumbup:

I think I'm sold on the USA-Spec & will probably be getting it from Crutchfield (more $) just because I would hope that it has the latest & greatest software for the iPod Touch 5g.

I had considered the Dice or Grom but the USA-Spec "sounds" just what I am looking for.

Thanks to all! :thumbup:
 
#182 · (Edited)
Hi, I have helped one other guys with the same problem a long time ago.

After hitting the mode button are you getting text on the display and/or can you confirm that you have control of your iPhone from the HU?

This is step one to confirm that your 3pin interface is plugged in and is talking to your iPhone. If this is ok, sound is the easy part.

With the guy I helped before, I asked him if the HU was ever changed/swapped. He was not the original owner but was able to confirm that the HU was replaced.

He pulled the HU and found that the BLUE 10pin audio connector was not properly seated in the bottom of the big 17pin main connector at the back of the HU.

I can attach pics or reference to post earlier in this thread if necessary.
 
#187 ·
Ok i finally got around to checking it out. DUDE THANK YOU SOO MUCH. Haha. it was the A plug. it fell right off when i took the radio out. And for some reason the bottom of the plug harness (where it hold the A&B plugs) was totally missing and the plastic was mangled. :facepalm: idk why. but oh well, it worked! thanks once agian :):thumbsup:
 
#189 ·
So has anyone installed satellite radio with this thing?? I already had an SCC1 Sirius tuner hooked up through my Dice unit that sh!t the bed. Looks like I can just buy some pre made 8 pin mini Din to RCA cable off Ebay, and plug the SCC1 into the USA-spec module. But is there a mode on the radio for it so that you can control your Sirius through the head unit?
 
#190 ·
Figured out my own answer. SCC1 is now useless. I can get a 3.5mm aux jack to RCA cable and use that to have the USA-spec play the audio through the headunit, but I will still need a regular car kit like the Stratus 6. SO that's what I'm going to do and just mount the display in the ashtray.
 
#195 · (Edited)
Reviving this thread, I just installed a PA12BMW on my '02 325ci and i keep getting the "no disc"(when #1 switch is off) and "no magazine" (when the #1 switch on SPEC is on). However it Tells me AUX on the dashoard when the iPhone is connected through the charging cable(sorry my english is bad) and there is no sound coming from the car stereo, just the iPhone.I havent tried an iPOd on it yet, but i tried an iPhone 4. can somebody guide me ? And Yes i have read the posts describing the same problem, i just didnt understand the solution. Thank You
 
#196 · (Edited)
Hi, I was away this week and just seeing this now. Have you found your solution yet? I only connect to an iPod, not an iPhone, but I expect you should still get the message on the iPhone screen stating "BMW - Ok to disconnect".

First thing to debug is the 3 pin connector to the PA12. Do you have 12V between pins 2 and 3 on the 3 pin connector?


Car side connector
___________________
|...............................___|
|...3.....2.....1....___|
|___________|


1 : k-bus : white with red/yellow
2 : 12V : red with green
3 : gnd : brown

note: the USAspec document has a similar pic but it has the pin numbering reversed.
 
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